RAMSI

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) concluded on 30 June 2017.

RAMSI was a partnership between the people and government of Solomon Islands and fifteen countries of the Pacific. Led and largely financed by Australia, RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands in July 2003 at the request of the Solomon Islands Government. RAMSI helped Solomon Islands lay the foundations for long-term stability, security and prosperity following five years of ethnic tensions.

October 2004

December 2004

Adam Dunning, an Australian Participating Police Force officer, is shot dead during a routine patrol in Honiara

December 2004

Australian Rifle Company Group rapidly deployed to Solomon Islands in response to the death of Adam Dunning, to assist with restoring law and order

March 2005

Jamie Clark, an Australian member of the Combined Task Force, tragically dies after slipping and falling into an underground cave in the foothills of Central Guadalcanal while searching for hidden weapons caches

May 2005

Pacific Islands Forum’s Eminent Persons Group commences its review of RAMSI’s impact on the security situation in Solomon Islands

September 2005

Solomon Islands Civic Education Project launched with the aim of educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities in a democracy

December 2005

April 2006

First National General Election held since RAMSI arrived in Solomon Islands

April 2006

Riots erupt following the election of Prime Minister Snyder Rini; 25 Participating Police Force officers seriously injured; wide-scale luting and burning of Chinese owned businesses over the following two days

April 2006

In response to a request from Solomon Islands Government, Australia and New Zealand deploy additional military forces to help quell the rioting in Honiara

April 2006

Snyder Rini resigns as Prime Minister, following the lodgement of a motion of no confidence in the Solomon Islands National Parliament, replaced by Manasseh Sogavare

May 2006

October 2006

RAMSI Community Outreach Program launches with representatives of RAMSI’s civilian, police and military components visiting communities throughout the country, along with Solomon Island Government counterparts

October 2006

Niue joins RAMSI, which is now made up of personnel from every country in the Pacific Islands Forum

April 2007

Pacific Islands Forum Taskforce conduct a preliminary review of RAMSI

April 2007

RAMSI assists with immediate relief effort after earthquake registering 8.1 on the Richter scale triggered a tsunami striking Western Province; 52 people killed, 900 homes destroyed and thousands left homeless

August 2007

Institute for Public Administration and Management reopens with RAMSI assistance as a training centre for Solomon Islands public servants

September 2007

People Survey results show 90 per cent of Solomon Islanders want RAMSI to stay in Solomon Islands

February 2008

March 2008

Inaugural RAMSI Women’s Breakfast held for more than 200 women to mark International Women’s Day

June 2008

RAMSI apologises for the tragic death of a young Solomon Islander woman in a fatal accident involving a RAMSI vehicle driven by Samoan Participating Police Force officer in Honiara

August 2008

RAMSI mourns the passing of Greg Urwin, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and one of the architects of the Biketawa Declaration under which the Mission was deployed

September 2008

New Zealand Participating Police Force officer attacked with a bush knife at Avu Avu on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal

March 2009

RAMSI appoints Gender Adviser to strengthen efforts on gender-issues on behalf of women and men of Solomon Islands

March 2009

New sound system for the Solomon Islands National Parliament, part-funded by RAMSI, is launched

April 2009

Partnership Framework between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI endorsed by both parties at the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI.

May 2009

New women’s CV database, a joint project between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI, launched to increase opportunities for women to be representatives on public boards, councils and commissions in Solomon Islands

June 2009

RAMSI officials appear before the Solomon Islands National Parliament Foreign Relations Committee as part of their review of RAMSI

July 2009

RAMSI publishes ‘Soccer in Solomon Islands: A Goalkeeper’s Guide’, written by Solomon Islands’ former national soccer team goalkeeper, Francis Aruwafu, as part of RAMSI’s 6th anniversary celebrations.

August 2009

August 2009

Correctional Service staff undergo RAMSI-run training course to allow them to perform core Human Resource functions, such as training, assessment and evaluation of other staff

August 2009

Solomon Islands National General Elections conducted smoothly without incidents

August 2009

New Correctional Centre, funded by RAMSI, opened in Auki, Malaita

September 2009

Solomon Islands’ national futsal team, Kurukuru, play RAMSI in a friendly fundraising match to raise funds to support the Kurukuru team’s trip to the Futsal Confederations Cup

December 2009

New Code of Conduct launched for the Solomon Islands Public Service with assistance from RAMSI

March 2010

Being The First: Storis Blong Olokelta Mere lo Solomon Aelan’, the first book on Solomon Islands women leaders launched with RAMSI’s assistance

March 2010

Detective Inspector Florence Taro, a long-serving Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officer, is awarded Special Coordinator’s Award for Women, recognising her contribution to improving the status of women

May 2010

New court complex opens in Auki, Malaita, jointly funded by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI

July 2010

Leadership Code Commission and Ombudsman’s Office move into new shared facilities funded by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI

August 2010

‘RAMSI: A History in Pictures’ photographic exhibition showcasing the history and achievements of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership opens in Vanuatu

August 2010

RAMSI assists with the collection and transport of ballot boxes across Guadalcanal and Reef Islands

August 2010

Fatal shooting of a Solomon Islander on the outskirts of Honiara – first time that the actions of RAMSI personnel operating in the line of duty results in the death of a Solomon Islander

December 2010

Solomon Islands Government revenue exceeds SBD 1 billion in 2010, first time in the nation’s history

March 2011

Community worker Mayline Sese Toghoa awarded the Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for her grassroots work with communities

March 2011

First of 134 new police houses formally handed over to Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers and their families in Honiara by RAMSI

May 2011

Dovetail Dialogue on RAMSI’s transition held between Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI

May 2011

Leaders from six Pacific nations discuss the planned withdrawal of RAMSI’s military personnel as part of RAMSI during the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee on RAMSI

June 2011

Achievements of the Solomon Islands-RAMSI partnership feature in an exhibition on peacekeeping at the United Nations Headquarters in New York

August 2011

RAMSI police withdraw from the first provincial police post as part of transition at Buala, Isabel Province

November 2011

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Rapid Response Team lead the quelling of a near-riot in Honiara following the election of Gordon Darcy Lilo as Prime Minister

March 2012

Ruth Liloqula, a career public servant, is awarded the Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for her fearless commitment to transparent and accountable government

March 2012

The Public Solicitors Office launches three new law books, the first law books to be published in Solomon Islands since independence in 1978, with funding from RAMSI

April 2012

‘Mere Blong Iumi, Stori Blong Oketa’, a documentary capturing the experiences of Solomon Islands women, produced by RAMSI, airs on local One Television

August 2012

November 2012

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force receives first equipment under new SBD 7.7 million RSIPF Mobility Plan funded jointly by Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI

November 2012

New Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Gizo, Western Province

November 2012

Final New Zealand platoon deployed as part of RAMSI’s military contingent leaves Solomon Islands

December 2012

New Provincial Police Headquarters opens in Henderson, Guadalcanal

March 2013

Taeasi Sanga, Solomon Islands Clerk to the National Parliament, is awarded with RAMSI Special Coordinator’s Award for Women for services to the National Parliament and the Government

April 2013

Papua New Guinea Defence Force troops farewelled as the final platoon deployed as part of RAMSI’s military contingent leaves Solomon Islands

April 2013

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers take control of policing in Shortland Islands, following the withdraw of RAMSI officers from the Lofung Police Post

May 2013

Australia commits AUD 500 million in its 2013/14 budget to RAMSI, guaranteeing the Mission’s police component another four years in Solomon Islands

June 2013

RAMSI Development activities shift to Australian and New Zealand aid programs and other development partners as part of transition

July 2013

RAMSI 10th anniversary

July 2013

RAMSI military contingent begins its withdrawal as RAMSI becomes a solely policing mission as part of transition

August 2013

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force begins distributing OC (pepper) spray to several police stations, following large-scale training of officers, to ensure officers have adequate equipment to protect the public and deal with offenders

October 2013

RAMSI officials and Solomon Islands Government representatives sign the Participating Police Force Drawdown Strategy 2013-17, which outlines RAMSI’s four years of capacity development assistance out to 2017

January 2014

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Police Response Team lead the quelling of a civil disturbance following a reggae concert on the outskirts of Honiara

March 2014

New Police Act, Code of Conduct and Police Regulations come into effect, outlining the powers and responsibilities of Royal Solomon Islands Police Force officers

April 2014

Large-scale flooding affects Honiara – RAMSI Participating Police Force and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force work closely together to maintain and promote law, order and security in the weeks following

April 2014

Additional surge of RAMSI personnel arrive in Solomon Islands to support the RSIPF maintain law and order at Gold Ridge Mine and to assess hazardous materials on site, following a staff evacuation during the 3 April floods

May 2014

RSIPF deploy, with RAMSI support, to quell a riot in the Renandi area of East Honiara

July 2014

RSIPF and RAMSI participate in Solomon Islands Trade Expo

July 2014

Solomon Islands Government and RAMSI celebrate the Mission’s 11th anniversary

September 2014

Frank Prendergast is sworn in as the new RSIPF Commissioner

November 2014

Additional surge of RAMSI personnel arrive in Solomon Islands to support the RSIPF with security for the National General Election

November 2014

Solomon Islands holds peaceful National General Elections

December 2014

Hon. Mannaseh Sogavare elected as Prime Minister of Solomon Islands

March 2015

Provincial consultations on the limited staged rearmament of the RSIPF commence

June 2015

RSIPF successfully lead the planning and delivery of security for the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders’ Summit in Honiara.

June 2015

RAMSI hands over new RAMSI-built police station in Auki, the capital of Malaita Province.

July 2015

The influential ‘Appropriate Cost of Solomon Islands Police Service’ report presented to Solomon Islands Government, and later endorsed by Cabinet. The Solomon Islands Government subsequently increased the RSIPF budget by 20 per cent in 2016.

September 2015

Auki-based RAMSI police advisers withdrawn, 12 years after setting up the post to support the RSIPF in Malaita Province.

October 2015

Long-time fugitive Edmund Sae arrested in Malaita for the 2003 murder of former Police Commissioner Sir Frederick Soaki, closing the chapter on one of the last major Tensions-era crimes.

November 2015

RSIPF and RAMSI launch a children’s story book to discourage alcohol abuse and family violence and build trust in the police.

December 2015

The RSIPF conduct high visibility patrols and boat safety operations throughout the Christmas period.

April 2016

Family Protection Act enters into force.

May 2016

Gizo-based RAMSI police advisers withdraw from Western Province. Now RAMSI is only based in Honiara.

June 2016

The RSIPF finalises its new Crime Prevention Strategy and introduces Random Breath Testing after an extensive public awareness campaign.

June 2016

Opening of the RAMSI-built RSIPF National Response Department headquarters and armoury at Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.

August 2016

RSIPF and Ministry of Finance and Treasury sign an agreement that leads to the high-profile Operation Janus, which investigated and prosecuted fraud and corruption in the Solomon Islands public service throughout 2016 and 2017.

August 2016

The Solomon Islands Government endorses the RSIPF’s five-year Capability Development Plan, which will inform government decision-makers and guide future development partners.

September 2016

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders endorse the withdrawal of RAMSI in June 2017 and congratulate Solomon Islands and RAMSI on the significant progress made to date.

December 2016

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes off the coast of Malaita Province. The RSIPF provide first response, with limited assistance from RAMSI.

January 2017

RAMSI and SIG step up their extensive program of community consultations ahead of RAMSI’s conclusion in June 2017.

May 2017

Members of the RSIPF’s Police Response Team and Close Personal Protection team are rearmed so that the RSIPF can protect its communities, borders and waters.

May 2017

Second firearms amnesty and gun collection and destruction program.

June 2017

A week of end-of-mission and farewell celebrations commence in Honiara, including the launch of this museum exhibition.